Florida House Cleaning and Maid Insurance Policy Information

Florida House Cleaning and Maid Insurance. House cleaners provide basic cleaning services to the interior of residences. Some provide exclusive services to one client only, while others have a number of regular clients or offer services to the public on an "as needed" basis. Typical services include the removal of trash from all areas of the premises, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, dusting, and regular vacuuming, mopping or sweeping of floors. Other services may include cleaning of carpets or draperies, polishing floors, and window washing. Some provide cleaning services for properties up for sale or after criminal activity.

If you offer your services as a house cleaner, you need to know the risks involved and protect yourself from potential liability. Lawsuits in the home cleaning industry are fairly common. For instance, a cleaning business was on the receiving end of a lawsuit when one customer claimed that glass became scratched during cleaning, leading to a lawsuit for $300K against the company. Serious legal trouble can befall your business if you're oblivious to the risks you face and do not take action to mitigate them - and that is where Florida house cleaning and maid insurance come in.

Florida housecleaning maid insurance protects your janitorial from lawsuits with rates as low as $27/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

A professional liability policy afford coverage for claims of errors and omissions. If you often give advice to customers about cleaning, you may want to carry this type of policy. If your advice ends up causing damage or harm, you may be liable. Work with your agent to determine if you need this valuable coverage.

Essential Cleaning Business Insurance

Housecleaning is a huge industry, and Americans spend millions of dollars each year on hired help to clean their homes. Most home cleaning businesses are smaller operations - which represents huge potential for liability claims from customers.

As the owner of a cleaning business, there are a number of different perils that you need to insure your business against. Any comprehensive Florida house cleaning and maid insurance policy should contain:

General liability coverage for property damage or bodily injury to others.

Auto coverage for damages resulting from the business use of vehicles.

Fidelity bonding to cover employee theft from the business or customers.

In addition, your business may need an Florida house cleaning and maid insurance umbrella liability policy with additional limits for substantial claims.

Special Coverage for Home Cleaning Businesses

Many of the aspects of insurance for cleaning businesses are similar to those that all businesses need, but there are also special Florida house cleaning and maid insurance coverages that are specific to the cleaning industry. Since your job involves going out to people's homes and providing a service in their homes, the exposures that you face are unlike those of most other businesses.

For instance, if you or someone working for you causes extensive damage to the property of a client while working for your business, you are liable in most instances. The risk can be hidden; as an example, a laptop might be damaged that's worth a several hundred dollars, but the data on the laptop may be worth much more or even be irreplaceable.

Employee theft is also a big concern for FL cleaning businesses. If an employee is accused of theft by the property owner, then you may be held liable for the cost of whatever items are stolen. A comprehensive Florida house cleaning and maid insurance policy can put these risks in a mitigatable format so that your business doesn't suffer due to the actions of those working for you.

Considerations for Cleaning and Janitorial Business Insurance

There are unique insurance and bonding requirements for cleaning and janitorial businesses. A commercial insurance agent can discuss your business' needs for:

General liability insurance. Not all businesses are created equally, and your business has unique needs that your agent can help you address. For instance, businesses that carry only the minimum amount of liability insurance may not be fully protected, but some may be. Work with an agent to discuss the policy you need and the limits your business requires.

Bonds. Janitorial insurance bonding for your business must be adequate. Standard fidelity bonds may cover theft from employers, but the bond must have a special endorsement stating such. This is due to the difficulty in measuring risk. Work with a seasoned insurance agent to handle bonding and ensure your bond is adequate for your situation.

Commercial auto insurance. Getting to the job site requires commercial insurance on your business' vehicles. Even if you are using a personal vehicle, your personal auto may not cover damages to your vehicle or others when you are on the job.

Florida House Cleaner's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposures are slight at the house cleaner's premises due to lack of public access, but moderate away from the premises due to hazards at the job site. When cleaning residential interiors, there is some potential for slip and fall injuries to the client or their family members due to wet, slippery floors, spills and equipment and supplies impeding access.

The absence of basic controls (e.g., proper caution signs, the use of non-slip finishes, etc.) may indicate a morale hazard. There is also the risk of injury or damage to customers' property from spills, marring, scratched surfaces, and the upset or dropping of breakables. Many of these fall under the care, custody and control exclusion, and should be covered under inland marine bailees' forms.

All agreements regarding responsibility for the property in the insured's care need careful review and evaluation. House cleaning services typically employ casual labor and have high turnover, with minimal time or budget for training, which can increase the loss potential. Pre employment background checks and reference checks should be a part of the hiring process in order to protect clients.

A major concern is failure to secure the premises during cleaning and especially upon completion of the work. This hazard increases with high employee turnover. The cleaning service should have specific procedures addressing lockup and key control that include a final checklist by the supervisor of a particular client when the job is completed. Some areas of a customer's home may need to remain closed because they contain property susceptible to damage or contamination, dangerous pets, or confidential information.

Personal injury exposures include invasion of privacy and even assault to the customers. Failure to run background checks and review references on employees increases the hazard and reduces available defenses.

Workers compensation exposure can be high. Casual labor, high turnover and minimal training time are all factors affecting losses. Work is frequently performed under time constraints which can encourage workers to cut corners. Lung, eye, or skin irritations and reactions can result from cleaning chemicals.

Slips and falls can occur during cleaning operations. Back injuries, hernias, sprains and strains can result from lifting. Employees can be assaulted while working in empty residences. Pets owned by the client may attack. Close supervision is needed. Workers may be injured in auto accidents during transportation to and from job sites.

Property exposures at the cleaner's premises are usually limited to an office and storage of equipment and supplies. Cleaning supplies may contain flammable chemicals that require proper labeling, separation, and storage in approved containers and cabinets to reduce the potential to fire. There may be a garage area for vehicles transporting equipment and crew to job sites.

Crime exposure is from employee dishonesty, including theft of clients' property. Background checks, including criminal history, should be performed on all employees handling money. All ordering, billing and disbursement should be handled as separate duties with reconciliations occurring regularly. Supervision and monitoring are important to control losses.

Inland marine exposure includes accounts receivable if the house cleaner offers credit to customers, and valuable papers and records for customers' and suppliers' information. Contractors' equipment is limited to cleaning supplies and equipment, such as vacuum cleaners, taken to the customers' premises. Some cleaners may store some of their equipment on the customers' premises; others do their work with equipment provided by the client.

There may be a bailee's exposure for customers' property in the house cleaner's care, custody and control. Damage to high-valued items like carpeting and drapery could result in a sizable loss since a small spill or other damage could result in the entire item being unusable.

Commercial auto exposures are generally limited to driving to and from clients' premises with crew, equipment, and supplies. All drivers must be well trained and have valid licenses for the type of vehicle being driven. MVRs must be run on a regular basis. Random drug and alcohol testing should be conducted. Vehicles must be well maintained with records kept in a central location.

If employees provide their own transportation to job sites, the exposure is limited to non-owned for workers running work-related errands. If workers transport coworkers in personal autos, the cleaning service should verify that personal automobile insurance has been purchased.

Personalized Coverage for Your Cleaning Business

Your particular needs is the best way to get the right Florida house cleaning and maid insurance policy in force - one that works for you and your business and that protects you from the unexpected. Your agent can help you understand the subtle nuances of basic business insurance and the needs that your company has while helping you find the right level of coverage for you specific business' risks and perils.

Florida Economic Data And Commercial Insurance Requirements

If you are thinking about starting up a business in the state of Florida, it's important to understand the economic standing of the state before you set up shop. Furthermore, you should understand the rules and regulations regarding FL commercial insurance.

With this information, you will be able to determine if Florida is the right place for your business, and if so, what type of insurance you will need to carry to protect yourself, your employees, and the people that you serve.

Economic Trends For Businesses In FL

Florida is known as the sunshine state, and the economic outlook for this state is just as bright as the weather. It is estimated that the economy in Florida will reach $1 trillion by the end of the 2019 calendar year. However, while financially, the economy is expected to boom, it is forecasted that job growth will decline.

The reason for the economic boom? While businesses do certainly contribute to the economy, industry isn't the reason why Florida's economy is expected to soar; the residents that move to the state are largely responsible for its economic growth. Approximately 898 people move to Florida every day, and those new residents bring a tremendous amount of income for the state.

In terms of job growth, the rate of new jobs has been its highest since 2007; however, it is forecasted to slow during 2018. Approximately 180,000 new jobs will be added in 2018, which is slightly less than the new jobs that were added in 2017.

The industries that contribute the most to Florida's economy include:

Agriculture

Aviation & Aerospace

Financial Services

Healthcare

International Trade

Life Sciences

Tourism

Commercial Insurance: Regulations & Limits In Florida

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation regulates insurance in FL. The only type of coverage that business owners must carry is workers' compensation. Organizations in any industry must carry this type of coverage if they employ a staff of hourly or salaried workers. But, organizations that employ three or less people are not legally required to carry this type of coverage.

Business owners are also required to carry commercial auto insurance if they use any vehicles for their operations, such as making deliveries or transporting goods. Commercial liability insurance is another type of coverage that Florida business owners should consider carrying, though they are not legally required to have this type of insurance.

Additional Resources For Contractors & Home Improvement Insurance

Learn about small business contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your contracting business from lawsuits.

A contractor that wants to begin or stay in business, liability coverage must be obtained for the premises or operations, off-site locations and products/completed operations exposures. These coverages may be included as a part of a businessowners policy (BOP) or purchased in a commercial general liability (CGL) policy. Owners and contractors protective liability and railroad protective liability coverages may also be required in certain cases in order for a contractor to obtain a particular job.

Physical damage coverage for tools, supplies and equipment, both on and off the contractor's premises, is a concern. Liability exposures at the premises of the contractor, and at the premises of the contractor's customer, must be properly addressed along with completed operations. Business insurance is very important as is workers compensation insurance protection for employees.

Contractors may work under a general contractor as a subcontractor in larger construction projects - like a new commercial site or residential subdivision. They can work on smaller projects directly with a home owner, usually specializing in renovations or remodels.

In business insurance speak, often called 'artisan contractors' or 'casual contractors', they are involved in many aspects of construction and contracting work – and include various trades and skills. Carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, tree trimmers, landscaping are just a few examples. They may do roofing, fencing, drywall, tile work and many other trades that involve skilled work with tools at the customer's premises.

An artisan contractor performs a single trade or job, and each has its own specialized liability needs with its own exposures to risk and accidents. Contractors liability insurance can offer coverage for bodily injury, property damage, advertising injury and medical payments.

Most artisan contractors should have commercial general liability at the very least, but many need broader coverages - like an umbrella to increase their limits of liability, inland marine policy to protect their tools, workers compensation if they have employees, and even commercial auto if they use vehicles for business purposes.

Also learn about Florida small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including FL business insurance costs. Call us (954) 399-3996.

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